Eczema on deeper skin tones: what it looks like and how to care for it
Eczema is common in Black children and adults, but it doesn't always look the way textbooks show it. Recognizing it is the first step to comfort.
- Eczema is more common in Black children than in White children in U.S. survey data.
- On deeper skin, eczema often looks brown, gray or purple rather than red, which can delay diagnosis.
- Daily moisturizing reduces flares; a Cochrane review found it extended the median time to the next flare from 30 to 180 days.
Atopic dermatitis, the most common type of eczema, is a long-term inflammatory skin condition that causes dry, itchy, irritated skin. It's often pictured as red patches, and that picture can be misleading for people with deeper skin tones.
How common is it?
A 2018 review in Experimental Dermatology by Kaufman, Guttman-Yassky and Alexis reports that atopic dermatitis is more common in Black and Asian populations than in White populations, even though most research has historically focused on people of European ancestry. In a U.S. survey of more than 102,000 children, Shaw and colleagues (2011) found that 10.7% had been diagnosed with eczema in the past year, and that Black children had higher odds of eczema (odds ratio 1.70).
What it can look like on melanin-rich skin
A 2026 article in Cutis describes eczema on darker skin as often appearing as brown, hyperpigmented, gray or violaceous (purple-toned) patches rather than obvious redness. Because redness is harder to see, the authors note that "disease severity may be underestimated and diagnosis may be delayed." Other signs include:
- Thickened, leathery skin from repeated scratching (lichenification)
- Small bumps around hair follicles
- Dark or light patches that remain after a flare
Those lingering pigment changes matter. In the same article, 53.3% of Black adults with eczema said pigment changes bothered them "a lot" or "very much."
Care that supports the barrier
- Moisturize daily, even when skin looks calm. The Cochrane review of 77 trials found that moisturizers reduced flares and extended the median time to the next flare from 30 days to 180 days. It found no reliable evidence that one moisturizer is better than another, so choose one you'll use consistently.
- Keep cleansing gentle. Use mild, fragrance-free cleansers and avoid scrubbing.
- Treat flares early. Less inflammation means less scratching and fewer lasting marks.
- See a clinician if skin is cracked, weeping, infected, or itching enough to disrupt sleep.
Brown Panda™ is designed for eczema-prone, dermatitis-prone, dry and easily irritated skin, with comfort, gentle cleansing, moisture and barrier support as the priorities.
Sources
- Kaufman BP, Guttman-Yassky E, Alexis AF. Atopic dermatitis in diverse racial and ethnic groups: variations in epidemiology, genetics, clinical presentation and treatment. Exp Dermatol. 2018;27(4). doi:10.1111/exd.13514 Source
- Shaw TE, Currie GP, Koudelka CW, Simpson EL. Eczema prevalence in the United States: data from the 2003 National Survey of Children's Health. J Invest Dermatol. 2011;131(1):67–73. Source
- Smith M, Usatine RP, Heath CR. Atopic dermatitis: new insights and expanded treatment options. Cutis. 2026;117(6):199–200. Source
- van Zuuren EJ, et al. Emollients and moisturisers for eczema. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2017;(2):CD012119. Source
This article is for education only and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own skin.
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